John Joseph Billion was an American politician and physician who was the 2006 Democratic Party candidate for Governor of South Dakota and served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 13th district from 1993 to 1997.
14 Facts About Jack Billion
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John Joseph Jack Billion was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on March 4,1939.
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Jack Billion was the second of eight children of Henry and Evelyn Heinz Billion, and grew up in what is commonly known as the "north end" of Sioux Falls.
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Jack Billion received his BA degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and was admitted to the Loyola University Chicago in August 1960.
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Jack Billion was awarded his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1964 and began his internship and residency training at St Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.
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Jack Billion returned to Sioux Falls in 1971 to begin his orthopedic surgery practice.
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Jack Billion has been active in the Sioux Falls and South Dakota medical communities since that time.
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Jack Billion practiced as a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon from 1971 through 1997.
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In 1992, Jack Billion was elected, along with fellow Democrat Linda Barker, as one of two South Dakota State Representatives from the Sioux Falls-based 13th District.
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In 1996, Jack Billion declined to seek a third term in the State House, instead choosing to run for the State Senate from the 13th District.
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In 2006, Jack Billion re-entered politics and emerged as the Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota in 2006.
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Jack Billion selected Rapid City historian Eric Abrahamson as his running mate, but was overwhelmingly defeated in the general election by incumbent Republican governor Mike Rounds.
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Jack Billion married Linda Lambur in 1962, and they had five children.
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Jack Billion died at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on February 25,2023, at the age of 83.